Jon Reed A Messianic Object Lesson

In Luke 5, Jesus steps into the ordinary lives of fishermen and transforms their failures into a miraculous encounter. The story unfolds on the shores of the Lake of Gennesaret, a “garden of riches,” reminding us that God often begins His greatest works in places of humble beginnings. Jesus chooses not the successful, but the unsuccessful—those who had all the right tools, the right knowledge, and even the right routines, but still came up empty. This is a powerful reminder that our own efforts, no matter how pure or persistent, are fruitless without the presence and direction of Christ.

Jesus’ actions are intentional: He gets into Simon’s boat, asks him to push out a little from shore, and then sits down to teach. Each step is a picture of how Christ desires to enter our lives, become comfortable in every area, and use us as vessels for His message. The question is not whether we have the right equipment or the right knowledge, but whether Jesus is truly the captain of our ship. Is He comfortable in our lives? Are we willing to let Him teach from our “boat,” knowing that our families, neighbors, and communities are always watching?

Peter’s journey in this passage is one of honest struggle and eventual surrender. He voices his doubts—“we’ve fished all night and caught nothing”—but ultimately obeys, saying, “because You say so.” It is in this act of obedience, not in his expertise, that the miracle happens. The nets overflow, the boats begin to sink, and Peter is confronted with the overwhelming power and holiness of God. This leads not to pride, but to humility and a holy fear—a recognition that God alone is worthy and that our lives are meant to be surrendered to Him.

The call is clear: God wants to fill our lives, our churches, and our communities with the abundance that only comes from Him. But this requires honest self-examination: Who is truly the captain of your ship? Are you willing to confess, believe, and turn from your own way to follow Jesus fully? When we do, we become part of God’s ongoing story of redemption, where ordinary people become vessels for extraordinary grace.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God Chooses the Unlikely and the Empty God’s greatest works often begin with those who feel unsuccessful or inadequate. The fishermen had all the right tools and knowledge, yet caught nothing until Jesus stepped into their situation. This shows that God delights in using our emptiness as the canvas for His miracles, reminding us that our sufficiency is found in Him alone, not in our own abilities or resources. [06:50]
• 2. Jesus Desires Full Access and Comfort in Our Lives When Jesus enters the boat, He doesn’t just want to be present—He wants to be comfortable, to sit down, and to teach from our lives. This challenges us to examine every area: our words, our habits, our relationships, and our witness. True transformation happens when we allow Christ to be at home in every part of our lives, not just the parts we’re willing to show on Sunday. [14:10]
• 3. Obedience Precedes the Miracle Peter’s breakthrough came not from his expertise, but from his willingness to obey Christ’s seemingly illogical command. “Because You say so” is the posture that unlocks God’s abundance. Often, God calls us to take steps that don’t make sense to us, but it is in our obedience—especially when it’s hard or humbling—that we experience His power and provision. [18:03]
• 4. The Fear of God Leads to True Wisdom and Surrender When Peter witnessed the miracle, he was overcome with holy fear, recognizing the presence and power of God. This fear is not terror, but awe and reverence that leads to humility and surrender. In a culture that often forgets the fear of God, rediscovering this reverence is essential for genuine transformation and for living lives that honor Him above all else. [24:08]
• 5. Surrender Means Letting Jesus Be Captain, Not Just a Passenger Many treat faith like a cruise ship (comfort), a battleship (conflict), or a paddle boat (self-effort), but Jesus calls us to a sailboat life—where He fills our sails and directs our course. Surrender is not partial; it is a daily relinquishing of control, allowing Christ to lead, empower, and use us for His purposes. Only then do we experience the fullness and adventure of life in the Spirit. [30:03]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:35] - The Power of God’s Word and Aha Moments
• [02:26] - A Messianic Object Lesson: The Scene
• [04:06] - The Significance of Gennesaret and the Garden of Riches
• [04:36] - The Call to Be Fishers of Men
• [06:21] - Possessions, Purity, and the Problem of Emptiness
• [08:53] - Signs of Giving Up: Washed Nets and Quitting
• [10:29] - Persistence and the Limits of Human Effort
• [11:35] - Jesus Steps Into the Boat: The Stages of Transformation
• [14:10] - Is Jesus Comfortable in Your Boat?
• [15:24] - Teaching from Your Boat: The Power of Example
• [16:37] - Submission: From Excuses to Obedience
• [18:57] - Success: The Overflowing Catch
• [23:17] - The Purpose of the Miracle: Holy Fear and Wisdom
• [26:21] - Testimony: From Religion to Relationship
• [28:56] - Who Is the Captain of Your Ship?
• [32:08] - The Invitation to Surrender All
• [36:34] - Responding to God’s Call

Bible Reading

Luke 5:1-11 (ESV) — > 1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,
> 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
> 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
> 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
> 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
> 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
> 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
> 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
> 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,
> 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
> 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Observation Questions

1. What were the fishermen doing when Jesus first approached them, and what does this tell us about their night of fishing? ([02:26])
2. What specific instructions did Jesus give Simon, and how did Simon respond? ([17:50])
3. What happened after Simon obeyed Jesus’ command, and how did the fishermen react? ([19:55])
4. After witnessing the miracle, what was Peter’s immediate response to Jesus? ([24:08])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to begin his ministry with unsuccessful fishermen instead of successful or influential people? What does this say about who God uses? ([06:50])
2. The sermon says Jesus wants to be “comfortable in your boat.” What does it mean for Jesus to be comfortable in every area of your life, not just present? ([14:10])
3. Peter’s words, “Because you say so,” marked a turning point. Why is obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense, so important in experiencing God’s power? ([18:03])
4. When Peter saw the miracle, he was filled with “holy fear.” How is this kind of fear different from being scared, and why is it important for our relationship with God? ([24:08])

Application Questions

1. The fishermen had all the right tools and knowledge, but still came up empty until Jesus stepped in. Can you think of an area in your life where you feel like you’re doing everything right, but still not seeing results? What would it look like to invite Jesus into that situation? ([06:50])
2. Is there a part of your life—your words, habits, relationships, or something else—where Jesus might not be “comfortable”? What’s one step you could take this week to make Him more at home in that area? ([14:10])
3. Peter obeyed Jesus even though it didn’t make sense to him. Is there something God is asking you to do right now that feels illogical or difficult? What’s holding you back from saying, “Because you say so”? ([18:03])
4. The sermon compared faith to different kinds of boats: cruise ship (comfort), battleship (conflict), paddle boat (self-effort), and sailboat (letting Jesus lead). Which one best describes your current approach to faith, and why? What would it look like to let Jesus be the captain? ([30:03])
5. The miracle led Peter to humility and surrender, not pride. When God blesses you or answers a prayer, how do you respond? Do you find it easy or hard to give God the credit and stay humble? ([24:08])
6. The call to follow Jesus required the fishermen to leave everything behind. Is there something you sense God asking you to let go of in order to follow Him more fully? What would it take to surrender that? ([34:30])
7. The sermon ended with a challenge: Who is the captain of your ship? If you’re honest, who’s been calling the shots in your life lately—Jesus, or you? What’s one practical way you can let Jesus lead this week? ([32:08])